Duterte: Gov't working to rebuild lives of Cagayan Valley flood victims

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday assured flood-hit residents in Cagayan Valley the government is working very hard to rebuild  their lives from the destruction wrought by Typhoon Ulysses.

"I want to personally assure our fellowmen here that the government will continue its rescue operations until all families are saved, all casualties and missing persons have been accounted for, and all affected individuals and communities have received their needed relief and other assistance," he said.

The President also offered his condolences to the families of those who perished from massive flooding.

Leading the situation briefing in the province of Cagayan amid the devastation left by Typhoon Ulysses, Duterte also said that a million-peso worth of assistance was provided to Region II by government line agencies --including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, LGUs, and NGOs.

A total of 67 individuals have died from the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, of which 22 are from Region II, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

"I urge the LGUs to actively collaborate with the task force created to lead the rehabilitation efforts because your lives including your good health, safety and improved welfare are the government's priority," he said.

To the victims, he said, "We know your anguish and we will respond with urgency. With the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino, I am confident that together we will brave all the challenges ahead and emerge stronger as a nation," he added. 

Partly, Duterte put the blame on "climate change"  for the calamity that befell Cagayan Valley --a result of severe weather disturbances.

"Ang problema ho talaga. Whether we accept it or not, itong climate change there's a lot of water vapor going upstairs in the Pacific Ocean and accumulating into so much rain," Duterte pointed out.

Earlier, while attending the 37th ASEAN Summit, Duterte pitched for "Climate Justice", a leading theme in the January 2020 World Economic Forum. —LBG, GMA News